Agitator for washing apparatus



INVENTOR. /L/Mf Mw 0MM 4 Arm/vfr March 26, 1963 K. L. oHLsoN AGITATOR FOR WASHING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26, 1961 Ffa i United States Patent O 3,082,616 AGTATR FOR WASHING APPARATUS Kurt Lennart Ohlson, Farsta, Sweden, assigner to Aktiehoiaget Electrolux, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Filed Jan. 26, 1961, Ser. No. 85,621 Claims priority, application Sweden Feb. 25, 196i) Claims. (Cl. 68-134) This invention relates generally to clothes washing rnachines, and more particularly is directed to improvements in the dasher or agitator of such machines.

Existing clothes washing machines have an agitator or dasher submerged in the `washing liquid contained in a tub or tank and being rotated either continuously in one direction, or alternately in opposite directions during successive washing cycles. The agitator or dasher of such existing washing machines is usually of disk-shaped contiguration and has radially directed ribs, blades or bulges eX- tending from the side thereof facing into the tub, with such radially directed projections being intended to transmit rotational and centrifugal movements to the washing liquid upon rotation of the agitator, whereby the clothes in the Washing liquid are whirled and centrifugally discharged in a spinal path away from an active cleansing area disposed adjacent lto the dasher or agitator and then sucked back axially inward toward the center of such active cleansing area. The projections extending from the agitator or dasher are further intended, in the existing washing machines, to elfect rubbing or pulsating of the clothes as .the latter are circulated or moved through the active cleansing area.

However, the circulation of washing liquid produced by the above described agitators or dashers, particularly the pulling of the clothes axially into the active cleansing area at the center of the agitator, has a tendency to cause the clothes being laundered to cling to the face of the agitator, and thereby impedes the circulation of the clothes with the washing liquid as well as exposing the clothes to damage and tangling.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an agitator or dasher for use in washing machines of the described character and which is formed so as to produce a circulation of washing liq-uid at the surface of the agitator tending to prevent clinging of the clothes or laundry to the agitator, and thereby improving the cleansing action as well as preventing tangling of the clothes and consequent damage thereto.

In accordance ywith an aspect of the invention, an agitator or dasher, which is generally in the form of a disk, is provided with elongated projections or ribs at the side thereof facing into the tub of the Washing machine and having portions arranged in pairs and defining channels or passages therebetween which open in the direction toward the circumference of the disk. Preferably, the channels have a width smaller than their length throughout the extent of such passages on the disk. Rotation of the agitator imparts whirling and centrifugal motion to the washing liquid, during which streams of the washing liquid enter the channels or passages adjacent the inner ends thereof and llow forcibly out along the channels for centrifugal discharge at the circumference of the disk, and such contained, forcible streams of the washing liquid prevent adherence or clinging of the clothes to the agitator and thus improve the repeated circulation of the clothes through the active cleansing area for enhancing the washing action.

Further, in the agitator orl dasher embodying the invention, the depth of each of the channels or passages is preferably at least as large `as the width thereof at the surface of the disk so as to prevent the entry of the clothes into the passages or channels under the influence ice of the ow of Washing liquid, thereby preventing adherence of the clothes to the surface of the disk at the bottom of the channels or passages.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the passages or channels at the side of the agitator facing into the tub are open at their inner ends as well as at thelr radially outer ends, and the open inner ends of the passages or channels communicate with each other at the hub of the agitator projecting axially from the center of the disk and preferably being in the for-rn of a truncated cone.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the parts of the disk situated between the described passages or channels are 'also depressed in relation yto the elongated projections or ribs defining the channels or passages so that such parte of the disk are `bounded or walled-in by the projections at their inner ends and at the approximately radial side edges thereof and are radially open at the cirournferential edge ofthe disk, whereby different conditions of ilow of the washing liquid occur in the passages or channels and across the depressed parts of the disk intermediate the channels to further enhance the effectiveness of the agitator or dasher in lavoiding the clinging of clothes thereto.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the projections extending from the side of the disk facing into the tub has two legs or straight portions which are joined together adjacent the center of the disk and which diverge toward the circtmiference or periphery of the latter, so

,that a depressed area or part of the disk is defined between the two divcrging legs of each elongated projection or rib, while each leg of each projection extends alongside a leg of an adjacent projection so as to dene a passage or channel therebetween.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. l is `a vertical sectional view through the tank or tub of a washing machine having an agitator or dasher in accordance with the present invention and which appears in .front elevation;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line II-II of FlG. 1; Y

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken along the line III-Ill of LFIG. l; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective View of the agitator or dasher embodying the invention as viewed from the side thereof which faces into the tank or tub.

Referring tothe drawing in detail, it will be seen that a washing machine of the type to which the present in- Ivention particularly relates includes a tank or tub `10 adapted to contain washing liquid in which the clothes to be laundered are submerged. 'One wall of the tank or tub 10, for example, the back wall 11 thereof, is formed with a circular recess or depression 12 opening toward the interior of the tube and having a centrally located bearing 13 .through which a suitably rotated shaft 14 projects into the interior of the tub.

A plastic agitator or dasher 15 is molded on the grooved inner end 16 of shaft 14 so as to -be located within the opening of circular recess 12 and to rotate with shaft 14 about the horizontal axis of the latter. Inl accordance with the present invention, the agitator or -dasher 1K5 comprises a disk 17 having a central hub 18 which is preferably in the form of a truncated cone extending from the side of disk 17 facing into tub 10. The agitator or dasher 15 further is formed with a plurality of elongated projections or ribs also extending from the side of the disk facing into the tub or tank 10, and being generally identilied by .the reference numerals 19a, 19b, 19C and 19d (FIGS. l and 4).

:menare As shown in FIG. 3, each of the elongated projections or ribs 19 preferably has side surfaces 20 that converge in the direction away from disk 17 and that are joined to each other at a rounded ridge 21, as well as having rounded junctions 22 with the disk 17. lFurther, each of the projections 19a-19d preferably extends a `distance from disk 17 that is equal to the lateral distance between the sides 2t) thereof at the disk 17, that is, the sides 2Q of each projection preferably enclose an angle -of 60. As is apparent in FIG. 3, the ends 23 of the projects 19a-19d enclose angles of less than 90 with the plane of the disk 17. The projections or ribs 19a-19d are hollow and open at the rear of the agitator towards the recess 12 of wall 11, and an annular reeinforcing -web 27 is preferably provided at the rear side of the agitator and extends across the hollow projections or ribs as well as across the intermediate parts of disk 17 (FIGS. 2 and 3).

As may be seen in FlGS. 1 and 4, each of the elongated projections or ribs 19a-19d of agitator 15 includes two straight portions or legs 19' and 19" which are joined, at their inner ends, as at 24, and which diverge radially outward to the circumference or periphery of disk 17. Thus, each of the elongated projections or ribs is substantially L- or V-shaped and, where four of such projections or ribs are provided, as in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the straight portions or legs 19 and l19 of each rib are arranged approximately perpendicular to each other. Further, the legs 19 `and 19" of adjacent projections or ribs, respectively, extend alongside each other in substantially parallel relationship on the disk 17 so as to dene a passage or channel '2S therebetween. Thus, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the legs 19 and 519" of elongated projection or ribs 19a cooperate with the legs 19." and 19 of the projection-s 19d and 19b, respectively, to define passages or channels '25 therebetween, and the legs 19 and 19" of the projection 19e similarly cooperate with .the legs 19" and 19 of the projections 19b and 19d, respectively, to also define passages or channels 25 therebetween.

Where the agitator or flasher 1S has lfour elongated projections or ribs thereon, as in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, such elongated projections cooperate with each other, as indicated above, to define Afour passages or channels 25 therebetween. Each of lthe passages or channels 2S opens, along its entire length, in the direction away from disk 17, that is, into the tub or tank and further opens, at its outer end, at thecircurnference or periphery of the disk 17. Further, the inner ends of channels 25 communicate with each other or intersect at the frusta-conical hub 18 of the disk.

Preferably, the width of each of the passages or channels '25 at the surface of the disk 17, that is, at the bottom of the channel, is substantially smaller, at all locations along the latter, than the length of the channel, and `the depth of each channel 25 is at least as large as the width thereof.

It will further be apparent that the legs or straight portions 19 and 19 of each of the elongated projections or ribs '19a-19d form bound-ary walls along the radial edges of a sector-shaped part 26 of disk 17, and the inner end of each part 25 is closed or walled-in by the portion 24 of the related projection or rib connecting the inner ends of legs 19 19. However, the outer arcuate edge of the part 26 opens radially outward at the circumference or periphery of disk 17. Thus, the parts 26 of disk 17, as well as the passages or channels 25, are depressed or recessed with respect to the projections orY ribs 19a- 19d.

When thel described washing machine is operated, the tub or tank 10 thereof is iilled with washing liquid up to the level 28 indicated on FIGS. l and 2, and the clothes to be laundered are submerged in the washing liquid. The agitator or dasher embodying the invention is rotated ycontinuously in one direction, `or alternately in opposite directions during successive washing cycles, for example,

.the clothes to damage and tangling.

by an electric motor connected through suitable transmission means (not shown) ,to the shaft 14.

Since the agitator 15 is wholly submerged in the washing liquid, the washing liquid, and hence the clothes, are urged to rotate in the same direction as the agitator in an active cleansing area disposed adjacent the wall 11 of the tank or tub in which the agitator is mounted. The rotation of the Washing liquid in the active cleansing area further gives rise to a centrifugal movement thereof radially outward from the center of the agitator, and-the clothes submerged in the washing liquid are carried along by such centrifugal movement of the latter so as to lbe discharged radially outward from the active cleansing area. The rotational and centrifugal movements of the washing liquid and clothes combine to produce a generally spiral movement thereof from the center outwardly through the active cleansing area. Further, by reason of the centrifugal movement through the active cleansing area, the washing liquid and clothes are drawn axially into the active cleansing area near the center of the agitator 15, as represented by the arrows 29 on FIG. 2, whereby the clothes are repeatedly passed through the active cleansing area during the continuous operation 4of the washing machine.

In the previously existing washing machines of the described character, the axial pull exerted on the clothes toward the center of the agitator by the centrifugal ow of the washing liquid outwardly across the face of the latter has had a tendency to cause the clothes or garments to cling to the surface of the agitator, thereby impeding the continued or repeated circulation of the clothes through the active cleansing area, and further exposing However, with the agitator y15 embodying the present invention, a forceful radially outward ilow of the washing liquid occurs through each of the passages or channels 25, as indicated on FIG. 2, but a similar flow across the sector-shaped parts 26 of disk 17 is impeded by the portions 24 of the projections or ridges 19a-19d which Wall-in or bound the inner ends of the parts 216, whereby the motion of the washing liquid across the parts 26 of disk 17 is of a different nature from the radially outward forceful ilow of the liquid through the channels 25. Thesedissimilar flows of the washing liquid subjectV the clothes being laundered to an irregular motion so that the clothes are prevented from clinging to the agitator 15. Further, the fact that the width of each channel 2S is smaller than the length thereof and also no greater than the depth of the channel ensures that the axial pull exerted on the clothes toward the center of the agitator will not cause the clothes to be pulled into the channels 25 between the projections or ribs so as to adhere to the surface of disk 17 at the bottom of the channels.

Accordingly, the agitator 1S embodying the invention, in preventing the clinging of the clothes or garments being laundered to the agitator, ensures the repeated circulation thereof through the active cleansing area in order to improve the cleansing effect, and also to avoid tangling of the clothes and consequent damage thereto.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawing, it is to be noted that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various changes and modiications may be eifected therein, particularly with respect to the shape, number and relative positioning of the projections or ribs 19a-19d on the agitator disk, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, except as defined in the appended claims.

l claim:

l. An agitator for washing machines comprising a disk, and a plurality of elongated projections extending from one surface of said disk, said projections having portions thereof arranged in pairs extending alongside each other on said surface of the disk with each pair of said portions defining a channel therebetween which opens toward the periphery of said disk, the width of each channel, at said surface of the disk, being substantially smaller than the length ofthe channel at all points along the latter.

2. An agitator for washing machines comprising a disk, and a plurality of elongated projections extending from one surface of said disk, said projections having portions thereof arranged in pairs extending alongside each other on said surface of the disk with each pair of said portions deiining a channel therebetween which opens to- Ward the periphery of said disk, the width of each channel, at said surface of the disk, being substantially smaller than the length of the channel at all points along the latter, and the depth of each channel being at least as large as the width thereof at said surface of the disk.

3. An agitator for washing machines comprising a disk, and a plurality of elongated projections extending from one surface of said disk, each of said projections having portions thereof extending alongside corresponding portions of other projections and deining channels therebetween which open, at their opposite ends, adjacent the center and periphery of said disk, respectively, the width of each channel, at said surface of the disk, being substantially smaller than the length of the channel at all points along the latter, and the depth of each channel being at least as large as said width thereof at the surface of the disk.

4. An agitator as in claim 3; further comprising a tapered hub projecting axially from the center of said surface of the disk; and wherein the inner ends of said channels communicate with each other around said hub.

5. An agitator lfor washing machines comprising a disk having a generally iiat surface at one side thereof, and a plurality of elongated projections extending from said surface, each of said projections having portions which are joined together adjacent the center of said disk and have outer ends adjacent the periphery of said disk, each of said portions of each projection extending alongside, and being paired with, a portion of another of said projections to define a channel therebetween which extends substantially radially across said surface and which opens, at its opposite ends, adjacent the center and periphery, respectively, of the disk, the channels at their inner open ends being in communication with one another at regions between the surface of the disk and the outer extremities of said projections which are removedfrom the surface of the disk, and said joined portions of each of said projections further walling-in the inner end and sides of an area of said surface, which area opens radially outward at said periphery of the disk.

6. An agitator for washing machines comprising a disk having a generally at surface at one side thereof, and a plurality of elongated projections extending from said surface, each of said projections having portions which are joined together adjacent the center of said disk and have outer ends adjacent the periphery of said disk, each of said portions of each projection extending alongside, and being paired with, a portion of another of said projections to define a channel therebetween which extends substantially radially across said surface and which opens, at its opposite ends, adjacent the center and periphery, respectively, ofthe disk, each of said projections further wallingin the inner end and sides of an area of said surface, which area opens radially outward at said periphery of the disk, the Width of each channel, at said surface of the disk, being substantially smaller than the length of the channel at all points along the latter, and the depth of each channel being at least as large as said Width thereof.

7. An agitatoras in claim 5; wherein the paired portions of said projections adjacent to one another extend substantially parallel to each other.

8. An agitator as in claim 5; wherein said connected portions of each projection are substantially straight and diverge from each other toward said periphery of the disk.

9. An agitator as in claim 8; wherein the paired portions of adjacent projections extend substantially parallel to each other.

10. An agitator as in claim 5; wherein each of said elongated projections is generally tl-shaped in section and has substantially straight legs constituting said connected portions of the projection.

11. An agitator as in claim 10i; wherein the straight legs constituting said paired portions of adjacent projections extend substantially parallel to each other to define a channel of substantially uniform width therebetween.

l2. An agitator as in claim 11; wherein the straight legs of each projection are substantially perpendicular to each other.

13. An agitator for washing machines comprising a disk having a generally fiat surface at one side thereof, and a plurality of generally V-shaped projections extending from said surface, each of said projections including two substantially straight legs connected together and diverging outwardly from adjacent the center of said disk toward the periphery of the latter and said legs of each projection extending parallel to legs of adjacent projections so that channels are defined between said parallel legs and open, at their opposite ends, at the periphery and center of the disk, the channels at their inner open ends being in communication with one `another at regions between the surface of the disk and the outer extremities of the projections which are removed from the surface of the disk, and said connected legs of each of said V-shaped projections walling in the inner end and sides of a sector-shaped part of said surface opening radially outward at said periphery of the disk.

14. An agitator as in claim 13; further comprising a tapered hub projecting axially from said surface of the disk at the center of the latter, and wherein the inner open ends of said channels communicate with each other around said hub.

l5. An agitator as in claim 14; wherein four of said V-shaped projections are provided on said disk, with said connected legs of each projection being perpendicular to each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent FOREIGN PATENTS France Mar. 24, 1958 

1. AN AGITATOR FOR WASHING MACHINES COMPRISING A DISK, AND A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED PROJECTIONS EXTENDING FROM ONE SURFACE OF SAID DISK, SAID PROJECTIONS HAVING PORTIONS THEREOF ARRANGED IN PAIRS EXTENDING ALONGSIDE EACH OTHER ON SAID OF THE DISK WITH EACH PAIR OF SAID PORTIONS DEFINING A CHANNEL THEREBETWEEN WHICH OPENS TOWARD THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DISK, THE WIDTH OF EACH CHANNEL, AT SAID SURFACE OF THE DISK, BEING SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER THAN THE LENGTH OF THE CHANNEL AT ALL POINTS ALONG THE LATTER. 